Fruit stamping rotor



March 17, 19$

H. J. MUMMA FRUIT STAMPING ROTOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 15,. 1948HAROLD J MUMMA INVENTOA? ATTORNEY H. J. MUMMA FRUIT STAMPING ROTOR March17, 1953 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1948 AT TOR/Vi Y Patented Mar.17, 1953 UNITED STATES FRUIT STAR/WING ROTOR Harold Mumma, Riverside,Califl, assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical. Corporation, a

corporation of Delaware Claims. 1.

This invention relates tothe printing art and. is particularly useful inthe art of stamping trade-marks or other indiciaon rollable articles.

This invention is. an improvement in a certain fruit marking machinedisclosed in U. S. Letters Patent to E. A. Verrinder, No. 2,424,006,issued July 15, 1947. The. improvement relates primarily to the printingrotor of the Verrinder machine and. the mechanism. for inking this andreference is had to said patent for details of the fruit marking machineitself.

The Verrinder machine employs an elliptical printing rotor relativelysmall in size and mounted on an axis which is eccentric with respect tothe center of mass of the" rotor but concentric with the printing faceof the rotor, this face occupying the longest single are comprised inthe periphery of the rotor. The rubber printing stamp mounted Withinthis arc on the Verrinder rotor rests on springs, permitting it to yieldinwardly radially in response to contact with the fruit in order thatthe die faces of the stamp might enter inequalities of the fruit andmake a good mark.

Due to irregularities insize and shape and surface characteristics ofcantaloupes, a certain amountoi slippage has been experienced betweenthe printing rotor and the. cantaloupe during the printing operation.Where this occurs, it smears the mark on the cantaloupe and causes theprinting die to wear excessively;

It is an object of. the invention to provide a fruit stamping rotorwhich will substantially prevent the smearing of'marks and excessivewear of the printing die as a result of slippage between the rotor andthe cantaloupes during'the printing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simplifiedmechanism for inking an elliptical printing rotor of the Verrinder type.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing obj'ectsas well as furtherobjects andv advantages will be. made evident in the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a printing unit of a Verrindertype fruit marking machine with, which a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2-. is a side elevationalview of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is anenlargeddetail sectional view taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the-line 44 of Fig.2.

as Fig. 4, and taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional operational view taken on thelineE-Sof Fig. 1 but with the printing rotor turned as when first contacting acantaloupe being advanced on the conveyor of the machinetowards therotor.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the relation of theprinting rotor to the cantaloupe after the rotor is turned approximatelyfrom the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the rotor turnedapproximately beyond the position in which it is shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and showing the rotor turnedapproximately 40 beyond the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8,Figs. 8 and 9 illustrating how the printing stamping is permitted inthis invention to remain in true rolling contact with the cantaloupebeing marked when there is a lag between the rates of rotation of therotor and the stamp.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the printing unit Ii) shown inFigs. 1 and 2, is mounted on a drive shaft II which corresponds to thedrive shaft lit in the Verrinder patent. Fixing the location, on shaft II, of the unit I0, is a fountain roller 52 having a hub I3 which carriesa sprocket Hi and is fixed to a clamp I5, the latter being tightened bya set screw I6 onto the shaft II. Freely fitting over the shaft IIagainst the clamp I5 and sprocket M, are sleeves l1 and I8 to which arewelded sheet metal arms I9 and 20.

Arms I9 and 20 comprise identical plates, the arm E9 having a pumpactuating arm 26 welded to its upper end which connects through a link21 with an ink pump (not shown). The arm I9 also has an eye 28 weldedthereto to which a clevis 29 of a pressure rod 30 is pivotally connectedby a pin 3 I.

The arm 20 has welded to the lower edge thereof a triangular cross brace35 which extends across the space between the two arms so that the fiatopposite end of this brace lies flush against the arm i9 and is securedthereto as by screws 36.

Pivotally attached by cap screws 31 to the arms !9 and 20 are triangularform roller supports 58, the latter having slots 39 into whichhex-headed eccentrics to extend, these eccentrics being pivotally andeccentrically mounted on screws 41 which extend through eccentric holes4'2 in eccentrics 40 and are screwed into suitable tapped holes providedin the arms I9 and 20. Thus, by loosening the screws 4| and rotating thehex-headed eccentrics to, the roller supports 38 may be swung abouttheir pivot screws ii for purposes of adjustment, the screws 31 thenbeing set by screwing these in tightly to fix the supports in theiradjusted positions.

Supports 38 also have open slots 50 in which shaft blocks are slidablydisposed. Supported in the blocks 5! is a shaft 52 carrying a rubbertired ink form roller 53. Opposite ends of the shaft 52 extend outwardlybeyond the blocks 5| and springs 54 are looped around these shaft endsand around the screws 41 to yieldably pull the shaft blocks 5! towardstheir inwardmost positions in the slots so. This brings the rubber tiredform roller 53 into contact with the periphcry of the fountain rollerI2.

Mounted between lower ends of the arms l9 and 2G is a shaft 65. This hasa hex-shaped shoulder 66 at one end thereof and is secured to the arms19 and 2G by cap screws 67 entering eccentric tapped holes in oppositeends of the shaft.

Freely rotatable on the shaft 65 is a printing rotor 10. The rotor has asleeve H which is freely rotatable on the shaft t5 and has bearingbushings l2 and 73.

One end of the sleeve H is knurled as at M. Pressed onto the knurled endof this sleeve is an elliptical rotor tread plate 35. Also pressed onthe extending knurled end of the sleeve 'H is a pinion sprocket l6, thisplate and this sprocket then being soldered to the sleeve H.

Another plate 11, identical with the plate I5, slips over the oppositeend of the sleeve 1|, these plates both being recessed about theirrespective peripheries to receive endless rubber tire treads 18. Theplates [5 and H are held in the relation just described by spacers 8!and S2 and bolts 83 (Fig. 5) which extend through the plate through thespacers 3! and 82 and are screwed into suitable tapped holes providedtherefor in plate Tl.

Before the plate I? is thus assembled on the sleeve H in spaced relationwith the plate 15 a stamp supporting rocker 8t, fabricated from sheetmetal and including a bearing sleeve 81, side Walls 88, and an arcuatestamp receptacle 89, is inserted in the space which separates the platesl5 and TI, when these are assembled, with the sleeve 81 receiving andfreely rotatable on the sleeve H.

Extending between and with its opposite ends supported on the walls 88,is a pin 9B (Fig. 5).

When the plate H has been assembled, as above noted, and fixed in rigidspaced relation with the plate 15 by the spacers 8! and 82, one end of acoiled spring M is hooked around the pin 90 and the other end is hookedaround the spacer 8| in a suitable groove provided therefor The sidewalls 88 of the rocker 86 extend outwardly to form side walls for thereceptacle 8%, outer edges of these walls having inturned flanges 92which lie at the same radius from the axis of the sleeve H as theperipheral portions of the plates 75 and H which are concentric with thesleeve H, and which occupy zone 93 (Fig. 5).

The flanges t2 retain an arcuate stamp 94 in the receptacle 89, thisstamp including a deep cushion 95 of sponge rubber to the outer surfaceof which is bonded a rubber type bearing strip 95 from which type faces91 extend radially outwardly to a greater radius than that of the outersurfaces of the tires it in the concentric zone 93.

When the rotor it is thus assembled, the spring 91 normally holds therocker 86 with one end thereof engaging the spacer 8! as indicated bybroken line 98 (Fig. 5). The spring 9! is fairly light however, and therocker 86 is free to be swung by the exertion of a slight pressureagainst this to its opposite position in which the rocker engages thespacer 82 as indicated by broken line 99 (Fig. 5).

Encircling the sprockets i4 and 16 is an endless rotor drive chain Hlflwhich ma be tightened by loosening the cap screws 61, rotating the shaft55 by a wrench applied to the hex-shoulder 56 and then re-setting thescrews 61.

The unit Ill is multiplied to provide one unit in the stamping machinefor each of the files of fruit the machine is made to accommodate.

Rod 30 has an expansion spring (not shown) coiled thereabout just likethe spring 22!! coiled about the rod ZIG in the Verrinder patent andthis rod 30 is likewise suspended on the frame by a nut on its end so asto limit the downward swinging of unit it about the shaft H and topermit this to be swung upwardly from its lowermost position against thepressure of the spring coiled about the rod 30.

Operation The invention, bjeing particularly useful in markingcantaloupes, is shown as associated with a cantaloupe C in the variousviews in the drawings. This cantaloupe is of course delivered on theconveyor of the marking machine into contact with the rotor Ill in acertain timed relation with the rotation of the latter as effectedthrough the chain I00 by the shaft H.

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 illustrate various stages of the operation ofprinting a mark on a cantaloupe- These cantaloupes vary in diameter buteach cantaloupe initially contacts the rotor at a point on the peripherythereof outside of the concentric zone 93 as shown in Fig. 6. That is,the initial contact of the rotor with the cantaloupe is always on anon-concentric portion of the rotors periphery.

While the present invention is not restricted in its broadest aspect touse on an elliptical rotor of the type employed on the Verrindermachine, it is especially useful in that type of rotor. This is becausein this machine it is desirable to have the type faces extend outwardlya considerable distance beyond the rubber rotor treads T8 in order forthese type faces to penetrate depressions in the face of the cantaloupeto make a good mark, and this results in a lag between the rates ofrotation of the rotor and the type faces which tends to smear the markand wear out the stamp.

The present invention permits a limited degree of relative rotationbetween the stamp and the rotor about the axis of the latter during aprinting operation. It then returns the stamp to its initial normalrelation with the rotor as soon as the printing operation is completed.

As may be seen by a comparison of Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the rotaryshifting of the stamp with reference to the rotor takes placeprogressively and because the spring 9! impose only a very lightresistance to this relative rotation, the latter takes place withoutcausing any smearing of the mark by a wiping action of the stamp.

As the stamp 94 leaves contact with the cantaloupe C, following thestage in the stamping operation shown in Fig. 9, the spring 9| snaps therocker 8% into its position 98 (Fig. 5) in which it is stopped byengagement with the spacer 8|.

From the foregoing it is evident that the present invention permits theuse of a stamp which extends radially beyond the rotor treads so thatthe stamp penetrates depressions in the cantaloupe being marked and yetbecause of the rotational displacement which the stamp is permitted withreference to the rotor, smearing of the mark and rapid wearing of thestamp are eliminated.

The claims are:

1. A printing device comprising: a support for a tread; a tread providedon said support and adapted to have an article to be marked brought intorolling contact with said tread; a stamp mounted on said support with astamping face thereof adjacent said tread so that said face is alsobrought into rolling contact with said article by bringing the latterinto rolling contact with said tread; means on said support forshiftably relating said stamp to said tread whereby said stamp is freeto shift progressively relative to said tread, during the progres ofsaid mutual rolling contact, in a direction and along a path parallelwith the direction in which said mutual rolling contact progresses; astop on said support for limiting the aforesaid shifting movement ofsaid stamp in a given direction; and a spring yieldably holding saidstamp against said stop during the intervals between printing operationsand for returning said stamp into contact with said stop at theconclusion of each printing operation.

2. In a printing rotor the combination of: an axial member; a pair ofelliptical tread plates fixed on said member in spaced relation;yieldable treads provided on the perimeters of said tread plates,certain corresponding portions of said perimeters being concentric withsaid axial member; a stamp supporting rocker pivotally mounted on saidaxial member between said tread plates; a stamp supported on said rockerwith said stamp disposed opposite said concentric portion of said treadsand between said treads, the printing face of said stamp also beingconcentric with said axial member; a stop limiting the freedom of saidrocker to rotate about said member; and a spring yieldably returningsaid rocker into contact with said stop following a printing operation.

3. A combination as in claim 2 in which said stamp has a deep resilientsupport therefor on said rocker, and in which aid stamp extends radiallya substantial distance beyond the adjacent peripheral surfaces of saidtreads.

4. A printing device comprising a shaft constituting an axle for a rotormounted thereon, said rotor including a tread support having resilienttread means thereon for yieldable rolling engagement with an article tobe printed, said rotor further including a stamp support housed therein,said stamp support having a resilient stamping means thereon extendingradially beyond the tread means of said rotor for coincident rollingengagement with said article, said stamp support being coaxially mountedon said shaft for relative rotation between said rotor and stampsupport, and spring means connecting said rotor and stamp support fornormally holding the latter against rotation on said shaft relative tosaid rotor in initial printing position, said spring means beingyieldable during said coincident rolling engagement of said resilientrotor and resilient stamping means with said article to provide relativecoaxial rotation between the resilient rotor and stampsupport to preventslippage of the stamping means on the article and consequent smearing ofa stamp impression applied thereto, said spring means returning saidstamp support to initial printing position after passage of the articlefrom engagement therewith.

5. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said rotor is journaled on saidshaft and said stamp support is journaled on said rotor for relativerotation about said shaft axis, and wherein the resilient articleengaging rotor and stamping means are disposed concentric with saidaxis, and means for coincidentally rotating said rotor and stamp supportin timed relation with presentation thereto of articles to be stamped,whereby said articles are placed in simultaneous rolling contact withsaid rotor and stamping means to apply a stamp impression to saidarticle without relative slippage between said stamping means and thearticle.

HAROLD J. MUMMA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,238,229 Weller Aug. 28, 19171,499,796 Wilkinson July 1, 1924 1,606,190 Sharp Nov. 9, 1926 1,906,094Powell Apr. 25, 1933 2,040,526 Mumma May 12, 1936 2,263,893 SchulmanNov. 25, 1941 2,424,006 Verrinder July 15, 1947

